Big Ten East QBs put on a show Saturday

Oct 24, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) throws off his back foot against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 1st half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Carter/Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

There were no Big Ten East division teams in action in the early window of games Saturday. Then there was almost too much action to keep up with in the afternoon as Penn State played Maryland and Michigan State played host to Indiana.

Quarterbacks were the catalysts in both games as Spartans senior Connor Cook outdueled IU’s Nate Sudfeld in East Lansing and the Nittany Lions prevailed over the Terrapins.

Sudfeld took advantage of a banged up MSU secondary by competing 23 of 37 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw an interception.

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Cook countered with a career day, completing 30 of 52 passes for 398 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. He missed matching Jeff Smoker’s school record for passing yards in a game by two.

Indiana hung tight for three-plus quarters before collapsing in the last seven minutes as Michigan State scored 24 unanswered points to win 52-26.

Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg completed only 13 of his 29 passes, but they went for 315 yards and three touchdowns. He finished the day as the Nittany Lions’ all-time leader in passing yards and completions.

Maryland’s Perry Hills surpassed him in total yards, but his third interception of the afternoon ended the Terps’ comeback bid in the final minutes as Penn State won 31-30. Hills completed 19 of 28 passes for 225 yards with a touchdown, and he ran 26 times for 124 yards and another sore.